Experiential learning and immunity
One thing that has surprised me in the current coup:

Lots of smart skeptical people seem completely unaware of the basic concept of immunity. When the editors of Off-Guardian quoted Ioannidis, panicators accused them of supporting herd immunity. The editors bristled and steadfastly denied the horrible accusation. Others seem gobsmacked when they encounter the concept via clips or texts, and have trouble absorbing it.

I always thought this was superbasic scientific literacy, on the same level as the round earth.

When did this vital part of scientific literacy get lost? Immunity wasn't a major subject of public discussion before this coup, so the panicators haven't had time to memoryhole the knowledge. It must have been missing before this year.

The antivaxers have been around for quite a while. Have they succeeded in removing the concept? Most of them don't seem to question the concept itself; they think the risks of vaccination outweigh the benefits. (And they're not entirely wrong; some specific shots aren't worth the risk. The antivaxers falsely extend this to all shots.)

Is it a generational thing? My generation learned about immunity EARLY and PAINFULLY, through the smallpox inoculation required at the start of first grade.

The nurse used a tattoo needle to poke the fluid into our arms or hips, initially leaving a big scab. We were actually sick for a week or two as our bodies developed defenses against the virus, then after the scab came off we had a clearly visible inch-wide circle on our upper arms for several years, often permanently.

The nurses and teachers did a pretty good job of explaining the process, without getting into the deep details of T-cells and such. The newly found polio vaccine was a national campaign at the same time, with plenty of media coverage.

Later generations have received shots, but the shots didn't make them sick and didn't leave permanent tattoos. I don't know if teachers and texts still cover the subject, but teachers and texts NEVER train you as effectively as painful MUSCLE MEMORY affecting all of your senses.

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Closely related but less mysterious: Earlier generations knew the value of sunlight and fresh air. I've already discussed fresh air. Sunlight was demonized over the last two decades by a confluence of Global Warming nonsense and cancer panication. "Responsible" medical authorities have been warning us to stay inside, or wear Hazmat suits and Sunblock coatings if we need to venture out for more than 15 seconds. In fact melanoma is rare and mostly inherited, and the other sun-caused cancers are not deadly. The risks of avoiding sunlight are much more definite and certain. With sunlight and fresh air, the current lockdown picks up the pre-existing panic and adds the fear of encountering germs and acquiring immunity. Horrible fate!

Immunity is the new cancer!

Continued and extended here.

Labels: Experiential education, Jackboot stomping forever

  ¶ 11:10 PM